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for mercy, compelled to stand there till pierced by many a shot she expired in extreme agony. Nor did she suffer alone. A number of our neighbors and friends shared the same fate.

Since that evil day, there have been frequent collections of boys, and even men, in our neighbor hood, for the express purpose of inflicting similar barbarities on others of our species. Among the hapless victims of these cruel sports, I might name most of my own brothers and sisters, who have successively fallen into the hands of the sportsmen. How it is, that I have escaped so long, is more than I can tell you. Frequent attempts have been made upon my life, and I have every reason to fear, that before the Christmas and New-Year holidays are over, I shall follow those who have already expired under the slow tortures of a shooting match. Nay more, as it is said, that the annual Thanksgiving is at hand, it is more than possible, that while you are reading over my complaint, I shall be writhing 1 at the stake. I have never been very far from home, but it is reported among us, that the same cruelties are practised, more or less, upon my kindred, in every part of the country. It is enough to make one's heart bleed to think of it, and I hope for their sakes, and for the honor of human nature, that the report is at least exaggerated.

Now, Mr. Editor, as you are a wise man, and I presume no no sportsman, I hope you will condescend to take our deplorable case into your most serious consideration; that you will, if possible, devise some means for our relief; and that you will be

able to satisfy me,on some points, connected with my story, which are at present utterly beyond my limited comprehension.

It is said, that this is called a Christian land; that the inhabitants boast much of their humanity; that they have a book purporting to be a revelation from heaven, which is entitled the Bible; that most of them profess to believe the truth of every word which it contains, and to take it for the rule of their conduct. It is said, moreover, that the whole tenor and spirit of this remarkable Book, are opposed to every species of cruelty; that it does not permit the lords of the creation to inflict needless pain on any living thing; and that there is to be a day of judgment, when every act of cruelty will be brought into view.

Mr. Editor, can these things possibly be true? Is this a Christian land? Is the Bible the best book in the world? Do the people profess so highly to esteem it and yet allow themselves to conduct towards us, just as if cruelty was made an essential duty? I would not say, positively, that professors of religion in my neighborhood, very often take part in the barbarous sports of a shooting match; but it is distinctly whispered, that many of their sons are among the foremost, and that they are seldom, if ever, reproved for it. These are some of the unaccountable things which have long perplexed my mind.

And there is one thing more. 1 have observed, that we are in the greatest danger, about the time of Thanksgiving or Christmas, and the commencement of

the New Year. I hope you will not consider it impertinent in me, to ask, how this happens? Is it proper for rational and accountable creatures to be employed in torturing the inferior part of creation, when they should be praising our common Creator and Benefactor for the bounties of his providence, and for his merciful protection?

Nov. 1812. CHANTICLEER.

A LESSON TO IMPENITENT SIN

NERS.

THE truth of the following statement may be relied on. A few years since a manwas taken up on a charge of burglary, in a country town in one of the New England states. Burglary was then punished with death. The criminal was tried, convicted, sentenced, and executed. After his condemnation, he confessed that he had been in a constant course of thieving for many years, and dur ing the greater part of his life. Yet he imposed some limits on himself in this particular: he never took any thing unlawfully from his near neighbors, but was himself esteemed a very good neighbor. He stated that he had resolved not to steal any more after he should have arrived to the age of sixty; and this had long been a standing resolution with him. It is very remarkable that he was executed on the very day that he completed his sixtieth year! These facts were stated by the minister of the town where he was executed, in a sermon preached the Sabbath after the execution had taken place.

The case of this unhappy man

is full of admonition to impenitent sinners. Their situation and conduct resemble what is detailed above, in the following particulars.

1. Many, if not most, impenitent sinners in a Christian land, are perfectly convinced that it is their duty to repent and believe. They are as thoroughly convinced of this, as the criminal above mentioned was, that his duty required him to leave off stealing: Yet they persist in a course of impenitence and unbelief. They do it deliberately, knowing their folly and wickedness. They know also, that their interest and their duty speak the same language, and urge them to flee from the wrath to come.

2. Impenitent sinners who enjoy the means of grace, and hear faithful preaching, generally resolve to repent and believe at some future time. While doing this, they are sometimes sensible, and sometimes not, of the gross affront they are deliberately offering to God, by acknowledging that it is their duty to love and serve Him, and yet determining to put off his love and service, because a course of sin is most agreeable to them for the present. They often fix upon some distant time, when, as they seem to think, they shall be under fewer temptations to continue in a course of sin; and when they can disengage their affections from the world. Poor, deluded men! As if a single argument could be urged for their repentance a year, or ten years, hence, which cannot be urged now; as if the habit of procrastinating, like all other habits, would not gain strength;-as if the danger of final perdition

were not inconceivably increased by this wretched deception of deferring till a future time what should not be left undone a single moment.

3. There is reason to believe, that a large proportion of those, who defer their religious concern to a future day, which is to be a more convenient season, are finally and forever undone. As to very many the future day never arrives. They drop into eternity either without a moment's warning, or amidst the alarm and terror of a sudden and unexpected summons. They are not favored to live, as in the case before us, till the day when their fixed time expires. But should they, as they sometimes do, live till their future day becomes present, their usual practice is to fix another future time. It is not at all probable, that the criminal above described would have kept his resolution, if he had been spared beyond the period of sixty years. Why should he? The property of others would have had as many charms after that period as before; the temp. tations would have been in every respect as strong; and the reasons for abandoning his easily besetting sin would have gained nothing in force.

4. Impenitent sinners generally select sonic trait in their character on which they can dwell with pleasure. The criminal, whose case has been stated, was of this number. He obtain. ed the reputation of a good neighbor from those who lived near him. On this he might pride himself; so deceitful is the human heart, and so fond of flattery. Possibly it may be thought harsh and unwarranted to com

pare men in general, (for the great body of mankind are impenitent,) with a notorious culprit and malefactor: and doubtless the great majority of men in a Christian country would abhor the thought of stealing. But do they not allow themselves in sins equally forbidden and equally heinous? Vast multitudes allow themselves, for instance, in profane swearing, others in impurity, both evidently as heinous sins as theft or robbery: and all the impenitent allow themselves to persist in the very ag gravated sin of unbelief.

Let every impenitent sinner examine into the nature and enormity of his own guilt; let him humble himself before God, see his danger and the method of escape, and turn from his evil ways that he die not. O. P.

THE CORBAN SOCIETY.

AN association of ladies under this name, was formed in Boston, in the month of September, 1811, for the sole purpose of assisting poor young men, who are students in divinity, to complete their education. The officers of the Society, who with nine Assistants compose the Board of Directors, are as follows:

Mrs. MARY BOWERS, President. Mrs. DORCAS HOMES, V. Pres. Miss ELIZABETH HASKINS, Sec. Miss HARRIET MOORE, Treas.

In the Report of the Directors to the society, at their annual meeting in September last, it was stated, that there were sixty three members of the society, and thirty nine annual subscribers, who paid into the treasury

8305 a year; that they had received in donations $335 77, of which $200 were for a permanent fund; that they had, in the past year, given assistance to twenty four young gentlemen, who had received in cash $138, and in articles of clothing, $222 64 cts. in all $360 64.

Much praise is due to the Directors for the zeal and ability with which they have conducted the affairs of this highly commendable institution. In the existing circumstances of the Church, it is hoped that this charity, so ornamental to the female character, will be imitated by ladies in the other large towns in New England.

A SPECTATOR,

CRDINATION OF MISSIONARIES IN 1733.

Mr. Editor,

You are at liberty to insert the following extract in the Panoplist, if you think it worthy of notice. It is taken from a Sermon preached by the Rev. Joseph Sewall, D. D. at Boston, Dec. 12, 1733, at the ordination of the Rev. STEPHEN PARKER, EBEN. EZER HINSDELL, and JOSEPH SEC COMBE, as missionaries of the Edmburgh Society for propagating Christian Knowledge, to carry the Gospel to the aboriginal natives on the bor ders of New England.

This was the first public ordination of evangelists in New England, under the patronage of the Society. The society had elected Governor Belcher, Dr. Colman, Dr. Sewall, and others, their Commissioners, who chose and ordained Messrs. Parker, Hinsdell, and Seccombe, to go and preach the glad tidings of salvation to the heathens on the borders of New England.

THE text, which Dr. Sewall chose on this occasion, is in Acts xxvi, 16-19. The doctrines

which he raised from it, and illustrated, are these. 1. That our Lord Jesus Christ calls and sends forth the ministers of the Gospel. 2. That he sends them to open the eyes of sinners; to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. 3. That his gracious design in this dispensation of the Gospel is that men may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in him. 4. That he will be with his ministers, and give them all that help and deliverance which are needful for them. 5. That he inclines and enables ministers to obey his sovereign will, when called to the most difficult services.

The application of the subject is pertinent, solemn, and instructive. The remarks; 1. How deplorable is the condition of man! How doth it command our pity and prayers! 2. Learn the honor and duty of Gospel ministers. 3. How precious is the Gospel revelation and ministry! 4. Learn the glorious power and tender pity of our Lord Jesus Christ. 5. When Christ's ministers are prospered and their labors crowned with the desired success, the glory must be given to him. 6. God's covenant people are bound in duty to use their best endeavors that the light of the Gospel may shine to them who are in darkness and under the power of Satan. 7. The subject affords direction and encouragement to such as are called to preach the Gospel in the dark places of the earth.

The Rev. William Cooper and John Webb led in the prayers before and after the ser

mon. Dr. Colman, led in the ordination prayer, and gave the charge; and the Rev. Mr. Prince presented the right hand of fellowship. The sermon, charge, and right hand of fellowship, are printed, as is a brief account of the society. It may be agreeable to some of your readers to see an extract from this account.

In the year 1701, a number of private gentlemen met, usually in Edinburgh, for the reformation of manners. Reflecting on the ignorance, infidelity, popery, and impiety, which so much abounded in the Highlands and Isles of Scotland, they justly concluded that all these flowed from the want of suitable means of instruction. This led them to engage, by themselves at first, in a voluntary subscription for erecting Charity Schools in those places of darkness and irreligion. But upon trial, they found them. selves unable, in their private capacity to carry on so great and public a work; therefore they applied their thoughts to find out methods of raising a fund equal to the design.

To accomplish this end, they moved it privately to members of the General Assembly of the church of Scotland, that the representatives to that body might concur in the work. In 1706, the General Assembly took it into consideration, and recommended that proposals for the propagation of Christian Knowledge in their Highlands and Isles, and also in foreign parts be published. These proposals were sent to all the Presbyteries of Scotland, and to the several societies therein for the reformation of manners.

Application was made, in 1708,

to her majesty Queen Anne to countenance and support the design by her royal authority. She, with the advice of her privy council, approved and recommended it as a pious and charitable design, and granted letters patent for erecting the subscribers into a society and corporation for managing the same.

The first subscription was a little over one thousand pounds sterling; which increased, within twelve years afterwards, to more than eight thousand pounds.

To this society the Rev. Daniel Williams, D. D. of London, gave an estate, the interest of which was £56 sterling, per annum, towards the support of three qualified missionaries to labor in the conversion of the poor perishing natives of Amer

ica.

The society having unanimous. ly resolved to employ missionaaries among the heathen in New England, as the first objects of their care, did, on the 29th of April, 1731, nominate, commission, and empower his Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq. with other honorable and reverend gentlemen, their correspondents and commissioners.

Governor Belcher laid the matter before the General Court of Massachusetts, with the letters relative to the choice of himself and other persons as commssioners. The General Court testified their high approbation of the proposed mission, and granted an additional support to each of the missionaries for the term of five years.

The commissioners set themselves to promote a mission of such weight and importance. Messrs. Parker, Hinsdell, and

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